Most of the Italian NGOs arrived in Albania during the humanitarian emergency of the 1990s and then decided to stay, taking root in the country and contributing thus in the development of local NGOs and associations.

More than 20 Italian NGOs are active in Albania, including Acli-Ipsia,
Avsi, Caritas Italia, Celim, Ceses, Cesvi, Cies, Col’Or, Comunit? di Sant'Egidio, Cospe, Engim,
Fondazione Emmanuel, Iscos, Labor Mundi, Lvia, Magis, Oxfam Italia, Papa Giovanni XXIII, Save The Children Italia Onlus,
Vides and Vis. They work through financing from Italian Cooperation and other
donors throughout the country, playing a fundamental role in assisting and completing the actions of the government and local
authorities in ? understanding the needs
of the population and? consolidating
relations with civil society.

Italian Cooperation is currently funding 3 projects promoted by the NGOs ENGIM, Save the Children and VIS/CESVI. The main sectors concerned are
agriculture and rural development, health, support for the weaker and
marginalised sections of society and the promotion of the social enterprise
model. The initiatives financed are generally aimed at improving the living
conditions of the population, through making the best use of local resources,
supporting social policies, developing the educational system, improving
primary services, safeguarding human rights and promoting culture and equality.

The
cooperation between the Office of Italian Cooperation for Development and Italian
NGOs in Albania has strengthened over time thanks to? constant efforts at coordination.